Jon R. Withrow was born in Seminole, Oklahoma in 1933. After growing up in oil field camps in Oklahoma’s Seminole and Pontotoc counties, Withrow graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1954. He obtained a BS degree in Petroleum Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Geological Engineering. While at OU, he was the recipient of a scholarship from the Standard Oil Company of Texas. He also was an active member of Sigma Nu fraternity and served as President and Treasurer of the Student Senate.

Withrow worked at Humble Oil Company, Montgomery Oil Company and Sarkeys, Inc. before becoming an independent geological engineer. In 1968, he established the Sundance Oil Company and is currently still President.

Withrow’s professional memberships include AAPG, Oklahoma Registered Professional Engineers, Oklahoma City Geological Society, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists, and Oklahoma Landman’s Association.

As an alumnus of OU, he is currently serving on the Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors and is a lifetime member of the ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics Alumni Advisory Council, where he served as Chair from 2004-2005. In 2006, he was awarded the OU College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Service Award. In 2008, he was awarded the OU Regents’ Alumni Award.

Withrow married his wife, Cathryn, in 2001 and they have four grandchildren.  They both enjoy establishing endowed scholarships for deserving students at OU. They have endowed scholarships for petroleum engineering, geology, geophysics, engineering, computer science, business, arts and sciences.  In addition, they have endowed graduate fellowships in geology, geophysics and business.  Providing scholarship funds to deserving students is Withrow’s way of giving back to OU. Mr. and Mrs. Withrow are members of the Arthur Adams Society, the OU Seed Sower Society, the J.H. Felgar Society and OU Quarter Century Club. They currently reside in Norman, Oklahoma.